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“Whatever.” Austin walked off toward the showers.
“She seriously worth all the shit he’s going to give you this season?” Leon asked Noah.
“Dude could cut off my balls and string them up above the rink, and I’d still think she was worth it.”
“There’s the inside of a Hallmark card if ever I heard one. Dear Aurora, I’ll love you today, tomorrow, and forever. Even if your brother cuts off my balls.”
“Asshole.” He flipped Leon off before stripping out of his underlayers and grabbing a towel.
“Jesus, he’s whipped,” Leon murmured when Noah was out of earshot.
“You guys are dropping like flies,” Ward added. “Don’t tell me you or Austin are going to catch the love bug next.”
“Not fucking likely,” I muttered.
I couldn’t think of anything worse.
I barely had the energy to stay focused on hockey some days, let alone a girlfriend.
But Leon wasn’t wrong—my friends were dropping like flies.
Connor had gotten with Ella last Halloween. And now Aiden and Noah were as good as shacked up with their girls.
But it wasn’t in my plan.
The one where I was trying to get through college but spent every second of every day thinking it was a huge fucking mistake.
Scottie needed me.
Mom needed me.
And every day that passed and I didn’t go home, the guilt in my chest only grew heavier. Until I was sure, I might snap under the pressure.
* * *
I took one of the first spots with Coach Dixon.
If I wanted to find time to drive home and see Scottie before leaving Friday for our back-to-back away games, I needed to clear my schedule.
Knocking on his office door, I waited for his signal to enter and slipped inside.
“Ah, Mason, son. Come in. Take a seat.” He sat back in his chair, steepling his fingers. “I read your file. A top recruit from Riverview High School, Pittsburgh. State record for most points scored by a left-winger. Nice.”
I nodded, running a hand over my jaw.
“Modest, too, I see.”
“I’m just here to play hockey,” I said.
“You’re a business major?” I nodded again, and he added, “Interesting choice for a full scholarship athlete.”
“Wanted a solid backup plan, sir.”
“You don’t think you have what it takes to go all the way?” His brow arched as he scanned the papers on his desk again. “Because from what I can see here and what Coach Tucker has told me about your journey with the Lakers, you would have been a second-round pick, maybe even first-round.”
“I need to graduate, sir.”
“You couldn’t do both? Enter the draft last year and graduate? Most NHL teams value college development. Unless hockey isn’t what you really want?”
